The cloud-based service is now being led by Chris Wright, our newly appointed senior client manager with over a decade of experience advising SMEs across the North West. Our VFO offers end-to-end outsourced finance functions – from bookkeeping and managing accounts, to real-time reporting and strategic financial planning – giving growing businesses access to big-business tools without the overhead.

“Many of our clients are scaling fast but lack the in-house finance infrastructure to keep pace,” said Mark Kearsley, partner at DSG. “Our VFO offering fills that gap, combining automation with strategic insight to free up time, improve visibility and support long-term growth. Chris is a strong addition to the team and brings real regional expertise in the owner-managed business space.”

Wright joins us after senior roles at Mazars and NRB Chartered Accountants. He specialises in delivering tech-enabled finance solutions for SMEs, particularly around management reporting and data-driven decision-making.

“Technology is changing how businesses manage their finances, and this shift has opened up new opportunities to improve performance and resilience,” said Wright. “I’m excited to build out this offering for DSG and help more North West businesses unlock the value in their financial data.”

Our expanding VFO follows a year of strong momentum after completing a management buyout in 2024 and growing our advisory and audit teams, including the appointment of new partner Kate Taylor. We now offer a full suite of services to regional businesses including audit, corporate finance, accounts & tax compliance, tax advisory, wealth management and VFO.

Kate has joined from financial advisor firm, Sedulo. She brings more than two decades of experience to DSG. She has worked side by side with business owners across statutory audits, financial accounts, business and personal tax solutions, and strategic advisory.

She was the Liverpool managing partner at Sedulo and national head of compliance. Prior to Sedulo, Kate spent 18 years at Haines Watts where she was a director and audit partner, working with owner-managed businesses across a variety of sectors.

“Having dedicated much of my career to advising owner-managed businesses in Liverpool, joining DSG is a fitting and exciting next step. I’m looking forward to working with Laura Leslie, Mark Kearsley and the wider team to continue growing our market-leading offering and support our clients in achieving greater financial certainty.”

We are also thrilled to announce the promotion of David Pennant-Williams to audit director. David, who has been with the firm since 2008 and has a wealth of experience, will be heading up the audit department, working closely alongside the partners.

Joanna Caley, who joined DSG an audit graduate in 2021 and is now chair of the Liverpool Chartered Accountants Student Association and a board member of ICAEW Liverpool, has also been promoted to audit manager.

DSG partner, Laura Leslie added: “As we continue to expand our audit and advisory capabilities, we are thrilled to welcome Kate to the team. At a time of new challenges and uncertainty for businesses in all sectors, providing financial stability remains a key priority that we are passionate about delivering. The promotions of David and Joanna are also a reflection of our people’s dedication to the Liverpool business community.”

Find out more about DSG’s Audit offering here.

James comes to BKL with a wealth of experience in operations, strategy, transformation and technology. His background includes roles as a consultant at PwC and DXC, as COO for JLL’s UK and EMEA regions, and as a co-founder of international insuretech advisory business Alchemy Technology Services.

James will be working closely with other members of BKL’s senior leadership team – CEO Lee Brook, Chief Financial Officer Neill Ryder, Chief Growth Officer Juliet Shaw, Chief People Officer Greg McCaw, Chief Governance & Sustainability Officer Myfanwy Neville – applying his expertise to help the business grow as efficiently and innovatively as possible.

James said: “I’m excited to join the BKL team at this time of significant change and opportunity in the industry. BKL is already a business that does things differently and does the right thing. I’m really looking forward to taking us further, ensuring that colleagues are in an even better position to support our clients’ growth, coupling next generation technologies and operational excellence with BKL’s depth and breadth of expertise and capability.”

Lee said: “I’m delighted to welcome James to BKL. As we continue challenging ourselves to be our best, James’s skills and experience will be key to helping us work smarter and deliver a phenomenal, technology enabled experience to our clients.”

James’s appointment marks the latest move in BKL’s expansion of its senior-level leadership and technical expertise this year, with Juliet Shaw having joined as Chief Growth Officer earlier in 2025, and five new partners appointed across BKL’s tax, audit and business services teams.

For more information, please contact:

Dan Gray
Marketing Director
+44 (0)20 8922 9172
Dan.Gray@bkl.co.uk

About BKL

BKL is a Top 40 firm of accountants, tax advisers and business advisers based in North London and the City of London.

BKL specialises in helping owner managed businesses, entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals and families. Their clients benefit from deep expertise in key sectors, including property and construction, financial services, not-for-profit and music, media, sport & entertainment.

BKL offers a comprehensive range of services including tax consultancy, audit, accounting, corporate finance and outsourcing. It also offers specialist advisory services including fractional CFO, IT, governance and sustainability.

BKL is a member of DFK UK & Ireland, a regional group within the DFK International alliance of 200+ accountancy firms in 90+ countries.

In 2023, BKL partnered with private equity investors CBPE, marking a major step in the growth of the business. Since then, four businesses have merged with BKL: accountancy firm Landau Baker; commercial finance specialists CFPro; accountancy firm Alan Heywood & Co; and accountancy & tax firm Wilson Wright, who became BKL’s City of London office.

BKL is committed to growing in a sustainable way. As a certified B Corporation (B Corp), BKL is verified as a business that acts with consideration for people, planet and purpose, not just profit.

BKL’s charitable foundation, The BKL Foundation, allocates a percentage of BKL’s annual profits to good causes locally, nationally and internationally.

Last year, BKL won Best Business Tax Practice at the Taxation Awards 2024, and was a finalist in the ESG category at the Accounting Excellence Awards 2024.